SA REMARKS CONDUCIVE TO THE IMPROVEMENT 



I shall here make a short quotation in point, from the writings 

 of Charles L. Bonaparte, who has generally correct views on the 

 subject: — •' According to Buflfon and "\"ieillot, this bird is a perma- 

 nent resident in the West Indies, where, as they state, the name is 

 sometimes applied to it of Fausse Linotte. We, however, can per- 

 ceive scarcely any resemblance, except in its dull state of plumage 

 to a similar state of the Redpoll Finch, (Redpoll Linnet, Linaria 

 rubra. Will. J, The name of BimheUj by which it is known among 

 the negroes of those countries, is derived from the recollection of an 

 African bird, to which, probably, the resemblance is not more evi- 

 dent. Unfortunately, this propensity of limited minds, to refer 

 new objects, however distinct, to those with which they are 

 acquainted, seems to have prevailed throughout the world, and is 

 found exemplified no where more absurdly than in the Anglo- 

 Americal names of plants and animals."t This case is exactly simi- 

 lar to that before brought forward of House Sparrow and Hedge 

 Dunnoc. The West Indians would call the Palm Warbler a Lin- 

 net, and Mr. Strickland would call the Hedge Dunnoc a Sparrow^ 

 However, in every successive work on the subject, there is an im- 

 provement ; and it is much to be hoped that, as sound principles 

 are acquired, exactitude will be proportionately attained. 



I shall now give a list of the Birds of Britain, as divided by Vi 

 gors into five orders, — Raptores, Insessores, Rasores, Grallatores, 

 and Natatores. 



ORDER L 

 Raptores, Vigors. 



Family II. — VuUurida. 



Genus, Neophron, (Sav.), Neofron. 



White-headed Neofron Neophron leucocephalus. 



•Family III. — Falconida. 



Section, Aquilina. Genus, Aquila, (Antiq.), Eagle. 



Golden Eagle Aquila aurea ( Will.) 



Genus, Ossifraga, ( W.)j Ossifrage. 

 Cinereous Ossifrage Ossifraga albicilla ( W.) 



f Art. Palm Warbler, Sylvia palmarum. 



